What's in a name?Visit Dan Stout's website.
I love this question. There is so much in a name, and my thoughts about character names changes with what stage the manuscript is in.
First, there’s the process of finding a name that works during the drafting process. This is really for me, in the very early stages. I spend a great deal of time trying on different options before settling on character names. Names have a “feel” to them, and I can be working with a character for a while, trying to find their voice, and then I change their name and immediately they start taking on a different persona.
But I also have to make sure that readers will recognize and remember the names. You can have great characters, but if they’re named Stan, Steve, and Steph, most readers will struggle to keep them separate.
On top of all that, Titan Song is a blend of fantasy and noir mystery. To pull off that combo, I need to deliver a mix of elements from both genres. I can use names to underscore each of those core genres, such as by mixing common 21st Century names with unusual variations or period names to emphasize the otherworldliness of the setting.
Finally, sometimes names are...[read on]
My Book, The Movie: Titanshade.
Writers Read: Dan Stout (April 2019).
The Page 69 Test: Titanshade.
The Page 69 Test: Titan's Day.
My Book, The Movie: Titan's Day.
Q&A with Dan Stout.
--Marshal Zeringue
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